NCAA Women’s Championships Has Featured Limited International Influence
The look Swimming World recently published about the past three editions of the NCAA Men’s Championships revealed competition highlighted by international flavor. From 2023-25, athletes from 17 countries have produced a top-three finish at college swimming’s year-end showcase, and international swimmers accounted for more than half of the top-three finishes at the 2025 edition of NCAAs.
However, when we analyzed the data from the NCAA Women’s Championships during the same timeframe, a different story was told. Of the 117 top-three finishes available from 2023-25, 94 of them were secured by American athletes. That total accounts for 80.3%. More, only 12 countries produced a swimmer who claimed a top-three showing, five fewer than in men’s action. Clearly, the men’s meet has a much heavier international influence on the top of the podium.
When the 2026 NCAA Championships are held, we could see a jump in international athletes grabbing gold, silver or bronze medals. During the early portion of the season, Virginia’s Sara Curtis (Italy), Texas’ Eva Okaro (Great Britain), North Carolina State’s Eneli Jefimova (Estonia) and Florida’s Anita Bottazzo (Italy) have flourished, along with Southern Cal’s Minna Abraham (Hungary), Michigan’s Stephanie Balduccini (Brazil) and Indiana’s Miranda Grana (Mexico).
Here is a look at the data for international athletes claiming top-three finishes at the last three women’s editions of the NCAA Championships:
2025
USA-32
Ireland-1
Hungary-1
Mexico-1
New Zealand-1
Brazil-1
Israel-1
Singapore-1
2024
USA-33
Ireland-2
Italy-2
Hungary-1
Singapore-1
2023
USA-29
Canada-5
Germany-2
Ireland-1
South Africa-1
Singapore-1